Card index



Oct. 24, 194,4.v R. E. BAUDER 2,350,840

' CARD `1NDEX Filed March 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l oct. 24, 1944. R. E SAUBER v2,360,840

CARD INDEX Filed March 18f v1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES A'PATENT OFFICE CARD vrINDEX Raymond E. Bauder, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 18, 1943, Serial No. 479,653

13 Claims.

In card index systems, particularly those in which a plurality of superposed cards are hooked one upon another in a tray, Yit is often desirable to readily attach-an auxiliary card or a small card constituting a conspicuous -marker, to any of the main cards, to which attention must be drawn at Vsome later time, and it is the object of the present invention to make novel provision whereby any such auxiliary card may be quickly and easily attached to or detached from a main card without the Anecessity of removing the latter from the tray.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction which is exceptionally sirnple and inexpensive.v and may be expeditiously manufactured,` yet` one which will be durable and desirable from all standpoints.

`With the' foregoing in View, the invention resides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, V,description being accomplished by Areference Yto 'theY accompanying drawings.

'Figure 1 is a front elevation showing an auxiliary card attached'inaccordance with the present inventionto a main card.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view lon line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa perspective view partly broken away and in section showing the rst step necessary in removing a relatively large auxiliary card from the main card. Fig. 5 is a View similar tov Fig. 4 showing the manner in which a second removal step for the auxiliary card, is performed.

Fig. 6 is aview similar to'Fig. 1 but illustrating a comparatively small or marker card attached tothe main card in accordancewith the invention.

Fig. 'Z is an enlarged Adetail sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are framentary perspective views, partly in section, showing certain steps which are performed in removing the auxiliary or marker card from the main card.

'Preferred features of construction have been illustrated and will be Vspeciically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

A main card I0 is shown of the general form disclosed vin my pending-U. S. :application Serial No. 475,119, viiled February 8, 1943since matured into .Patent No. 2,341,522, dated February 1'5,

1944, said main card having a folded-over head bar I I overlying its upper edge portion, said head bar and subjacent portion of the card projectingl from the majorportion of the card to provide ears I 2-for slidable reception in guide grooves of a filing tray (not shown). Tongues I3 are formed integrally with the lower edge of the headbar I I, as in the application above referred to, said tongues extending rearwardly through slots or slits I3a in the card I0 and diverging downwardly from said card I0 to hook over the upper or head bar portion of a subjacent card. While I have shown two of the tongues I3 and two slots I 3a receiving said tongues, there could obviously be-more or less than two. To obviate,

however, indulging too much in generalities, the

descriptive matter will be conned to the twotongue and two-slot construction shown.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I4 denotes a relatively large auxiliary card lying against the front or upper side of the main card I0, said auxiliary card having upper edges I5 in abutting relation with the portions of the tongues I3 which extend from the head bar II to the slots I3a. The upper end of the card I4 is provided, in the present disclosure, with three flanges I5, I1 and I8 which project beyond the edges I5 and are received between the main card III and the head bar II, said flanges embracing the portions of the tongues I3 which extend between said head bar and card Il) and thus :securing the auxiliary card I4 to the main card. The flange I6 and the ilange I1 jointly embrace one of the tongues I3 and are provided with integral lugs I9 which project inwardly toward each other and hook behind the portion of said tongue which extends from the head bar Il to the slot I3a receiving said tongue. The two flanges I1 and I8 jointly embrace the other of the tongues I3, and

said flange vI8 is provided with an integral lug 20 extending toward the iiange I1 and hooked behind 'the portion of said other of said tongues which extends from the head bar II to the subjacent slot I 3a. While the central flange I1 is preferably employed, it obviously might be omitted, leaving the auxiliary card I4 attached to the main card I0 by means of the other two ilanges I 6 and I1 embracing the tongues I3.

All of the flanges I6, I1 and I8 and the auxiliary card I4 lie in the same plane, and are provided with hinge portions joining said flanges to said auxiliary card (preferably integrally) along alined Vhinge lines 2I which permit said auxiliary card I4 to be swung upwardly into a plane perpendicular to the main card Iii. By grasping the right and left end portions of card I4 with the right and left hands, when said card is swung to perpendicular position, the end portions of said card, carrying the ianges H5 and I8, may be relatively angled as shown in Fig. 4, thus so spreading said flanges I5 and I8 as to permit release of these iianges from their embracing relation with the tongues I3. This having been done, the card I4 may be shifted substantially to the position shown in Fig. 5 and slid endwise to disengage the lug I9 of ilange II from the tongue I3 which it previously engaged. A reversal of these operations is employed when attaching the auxiliary card I4 to the main card II).

In Figs. 6 to 9, a relatively small auxiliary card or marker card I4a is shown lying directly upon the main card I0, but it could of course lie upon one of the auxiliary cards I4 above described. In either instance, the card Hla is attached to the main card III in the same general way as said card I4 is attached.

In the present showing, the card IIIa is of substantially T-shape, the ends of the T-head being indicated at 22. This specific shape for the card, however, is not essential. The card I4a is provided with an upper edge I5a in abutting relation with the portion oi one of the tongues I3 which extends from the head bar II to the subjacent slot |33, and said card is provided also with flanges 16a and Il!a projecting beyond said edge I5a, said flanges having integral lugs I9a and 2l!a which hook behind the portions of the tongue embraced by the flanges. These flanges are preferably integral with the card UIa and said card and flanges are provided with hinge portions joining said flanges to said card (preferably integrally) along hinge lines 2 Ia which permit the body portion of the card I-fIa to be upwardly swung into a plane perpendicular to the main card Ill, as shown in Fig. 8. With the card in this position, its flange-carrying portions may be relatively angled to permit disengagement of the anges Ia and ISE, from the tongue I3. It is preferable to spring back the end 22 of the T- head carrying the flange 58a, with the tip of the foreflnger and thumb, thus moving said flange |82' to the tongue-clearing position shown in Fig.

v8. The card ma may then be sprung a little to permit the lug ZI)a to entirely clear the tongue I3 as seen in Fig. 9,. whereupon said card may be slid to unhook the lug 69a of the flange IIa from said tongue I3. To facilitate such removal of the card Ida from the main card Io, as well as application of said card I4a to the main card, it is preferable to provide the T-head ends 22 and the body portion of the card, with hinge portions joining said T-head ends 22 and said body portion of said card along hinge lines 23.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention. While preferred details of construction have been illustrated. attention is again invited to the possibility or" making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed. Moreover, it Will be obvious that while the invention is intended primarily for connecting an auxiliary card to a main card of a card index, it is not restricted to this particular neld, in which connection it will be clear that the main card I9, in a broad sense constitutes a mere support or carrier for the auxiliary card I4 or |411, and that the tongues I3 form card anchoring means which could take other form, and that other provision could well take the place of the head bar I l to prevent mere lifting of the auxiliary card from the card anchoring means. Moreover, it is to be understood that the word card does not necessarily mean a stiii:` card nor one of any particular thickness, mere paper thickness being often adequate.

I claim:

1. An assemblage ofthe class described comprising a card support having a flat card-supporting side, card-anchoring means projecting from said card-supporting side of said card support, a card lying upon said card-supporting side of said card support and having an edge disposed in abutting relation with said card-anchoring means, two spaced flanges projecting beyond said edge' of said card, said anges jointly embracing said card-anchoring means to secure said card to said support, said card and flanges being in the same plane and having hinge means joining said flanges to said card along alined hinge lines which permit said card to be swung into a plane perpendicular to said flanges, whereby the flange-carrying portions of said card may be relatively angled to spread said flanges from their embracing engagement with said card-anchoring means when said card is swung into said plane, and means connected with said card support and overlying said card to hold the latter upon said card support.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; said anges having lugs projecting toward each other and hooked behind said card-anchoring means.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1; said card-anchoring means being a single member embraced by said flanges.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1; said card-anchoring means being a single member embraced by said flanges, one of said anges having a lug projecting toward the other flange and hooked behind said member.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1; said card-anchoring means being a single member embraced by said flanges, said anges having lugs projecting toward each other and hooked behind said member. l

' 6. An assemblage of the class described comprising a fiat card support, a bar overlying the upper portion of said support, and tongue means extending from said bar to said support; a card overlying said support and having an upper edge in abutting relation with said tongue means, two spaced flanges joined to said card and projecting beyond said upper edge thereof, said flanges lying between said support and said bar and jointly embracing said tongue means, 4said card and flanges having hinge means joining said flanges to said card along alined hinge lines which permit said card to be swung into a plane perpendicular to said anges, whereby the flange-carrying portions of said card may be relatively angled to spread said flanges from their embracing engagement with said tongue means for removal of said card when the latter is swung into said plane.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6; said flanges having lugs projecting toward each other and hooked behind said tongue means.

8. vA structure as specified in claim 6; said tongue means being a single tongue embraced by said flanges.

9. A structure as specified in claim 6; said tongue means being a single tongue embraced by said flanges, one of said anges having a lug projecting toward the other flange and hooked behind said tongue.

10. A structure as specied in claim 6; said tongue means being a single tongue embraced by said flanges, said flanges having lugs projecting toward each other and hooked behind said tongue. A

11. A structure as specied in claim 6; said tongue means comprising two tongues spaced apart, said two flanges having lugs projecting toward each other and hooked behind the outer edge portions of said two tongues respectively, and a third flange connected with said card and extending between said two tongues, said third flange being confined between said support and said bar and having a single lug hooked behind the inner edge portion of one of said tongues, said third ange and said card having hinge means joining said third ange to said card along a hinge line alined with those aforesaid.

12. A card for connection with anchoring means, saidcard having an edge for abutting relation with the anchoring means and having two iianges projecting beyond said edge to embrace the anchoring means, said card and anges being in the same plane and having hinge means joining said anges and card along alined hinge lines which permit swinging of said card into a plane perpendicular to said flanges, whereby the 1.0 ange-carrying portions of said card may be re1- atively angled to spread said flanges for engagement with the card-anchoring means, when said card is swung into said plane.

13. A structure as speciiied in claim 12; said 15 flanges having lugs projecting toward each other to hook behind the anchoring means.

RAYMOND E. BAUDER. 

